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This will probably be my last regular roundup and commentary on news events for the foreseeable future, as other commitments are taking a considerable amount of my time.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I haven't blogged about the devastating floods that have wiped out large portions of Iowa, and that threaten Illinois, Missouri, and other Mississippi River states. But other bloggers have asked some rather pointed questions:

Where are all of the
Hollywood celebrities holding telethons asking for help in restoring
Iowa and helping the folks affected by the floods?

Where is all the
media asking the tough questions about why the federal government
hasn't solved the problem? Asking where the FEMA trucks (and trailers)
are?

Why isn't the Federal Government relocating Iowa people to free hotels in Chicago?

When will Spike Lee say that the Federal Government blew up the levees that failed in Des Moines?

Where are Sean Penn and the Dixie Chicks?

Where are all the looters stealing high-end tennis shoes and big screen television sets?

When will we hear Governor Chet Culver say that he wants to rebuild a "vanilla" Iowa, because that's the way God wants it?

Where is the hysterical 24/7 media coverage complete with reports of cannibalism?

Where are the people declaring that George Bush hates white, rural people?

How come in 2 weeks, you will never hear about the Iowa flooding ever again?

Actually there have already been charges of mismanagement by federal officials with regard to the classification of flood plains and the administration of flood insurance programs, yet the Democrats have remained silent on the issue. I guess Barack Obama just doesn't care about those bitter, gun-clinging, Bible-toting white Midwesterners ...

..

The opposition to Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe has suspended its attempt at a runoff election. Mugabe's forces have terrorized the nation during the past month in an attempt to crush opposition forces. It looks as though they have temporarily been successful.

Richard Danzig, who served as Navy Secretary under President Clinton and is tipped to become National Security Adviser in an Obama White House, told a major foreign policy conference in Washington that the future of US strategy in the war on terrorism should follow a lesson from the pages of Winnie the Pooh, which can be shortened to: if it is causing you too much pain, try something else.

Mr Danzig told the Centre for New American Security: “Winnie the Pooh seems to me to be a fundamental text on national security.”

-- which is actually reminiscent of Jimmy Carter's infamous admission that he asked his then-12-year-old daughter Amy for advice on foreign policy issues. The Obama-Carter parallels continue ...

Have you been following the story of the "Countrywide Six" -- the six government officials who received special mortgage deals from Countrywide? Apparently Countrywide's CEO Angelo Mozilo made a special list of FOA's (Friends of Angelo) who received special treatment. The most brazen of the FOA's was Democratic Senator Kent Conrad from North Dakota, who called Mozilo personally to ask for a loan, then claimed that he wasn't expecting special treatment. I mean, it's normal to call the CEO of a company when you require its services, right? I needed a new computer last fall and immediately I began thumbing through my Rolodex, wondering who I should call to help me -- Michael Dell? Bill Gates? Steve Jobs? Isn't that what everyone does?

In related news, ACORN, the national poverty advocacy group that has previously been embroiled in voter fraud scandals, is being investigated again for improper use of lobbying funds in relation to the current mortgage lending mess. Apparently ACORN -- which is now fighting mortgage lending companies on the grounds that they mislead poor and uninformed borrowers -- had been lobbying the same institutions for years to relax income requirements and offer lower interest rates precisely so more low income families could qualify for mortgage loans.

...

In light of the recent Boumediene v. Bush decision handed down by the SCOTUS, which gives detained enemy combatants access to habeas corpus hearings in federal courts, former senator and attorney Fred Thompson provides a list of the rights already given to Guantanamo Bay prisoners before the Boumediene decision:

The right to hear the bases of the charges against them including a summary of any classified evidence.

The ability to challenge the bases of their detention before
military tribunals modeled after Geneva Convention procedures. As
Robert’s pointed out, some 38 detainees have been released as result of
this process.

The right, before the tribunal, to testify, introduce evidence,
including exculpatory evidence, call witnesses, cross examine the
government witnesses and secure release if and when appropriate.

The right to the aid of a personal representative in arranging and presenting their cases before the tribunal.

The right to have the government search for and disclose to the
detainee any evidence reasonably available to it tending to show that
the detainee is not an enemy combatant.

The right to appeal an adverse decision from the tribunal to the
Federal DC Circuit Court along with the right to employ counsel and
secure release if entitled to it.

The right to petition the DC Circuit to remand a detainee’s case
for new tribunal consideration if the petitioner comes up with newly
discovered evidence

The right to require the Department of Defense (DOD) to conduct a
yearly review of the status of each prisoner including the right to
have the Secretary of Defense review any new evidence that may become
available relating to the enemy combatant status of a detainee.

As a part of that yearly review, the opportunity for the detainee
to explain why he is no longer a threat to the United States, which
could lead to his release.

The DC Circuit can order release of the prisoner, and the head of
the DOD Administrative Review Boards can, at the recommendation of
those panels, order release upon an appropriate showing.

This should should (but obviously won't) put an end to the continual whining about Guantanamo prisoners being locked away with no access to courts and attorneys and no hope of ever being freed.

In fact, there are over 500 lawyers currently associated with Guantanamo detainee work. And despite the fact that most of them magnanimously claim to be working pro bono, in actuality, foreign governments, family members, and other special interest groups have funneled millions of dollars into lobbying efforts that would directly benefit some of the biggest Guantanamo attorneys.

Considering the significance that most of the Guantanamo detainees have within the world of radical Islamist terror, it seems inconceivable to me that many, if any, would be freed by federal court orders. What we will have in abundance, though, is yet another huge flood of lawsuits impinging upon our already overworked courts, and another eager group of attorneys ready to grow rich off of them.

Curiously, this news report describes Chiroux's father as a "rocket scientist" who lives near Huntsville, Alabama, which is home to NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center. This is interesting, since previous reports sought to portray Chiroux as a perfect fit for the stereotype of a poor white southern boy who barely finished high school -- "fillet mignon" for military recruiters.

“Why are they attacking Michelle Obama, first lady Michelle Obama, and
not really attacking, to that degree, her husband? Because he has no slave blood in him. He does not have any slave blood
in him, but Michelle does." (emphasis added)

Wow. Is this a preview of the storm of "not black enough" race-based hatred that could be directed at Obama if he does not satisfy every whim of the SCLC and other factions of the contemporary racial grievance movement?

...

Barack Obama's former church, Trinity United Church of Christ, which in my opinion chose to emphasize grievance mongering over reconciliation, is now reeling from all the bad publicity it has received during the last four months:

"It's so frustrating to feel like all that gets talked about is these
few bad things. We have so many great programs happening here, and
they're ignored. It's like there are two different Trinitys: the one we
know and love, and the one everybody hates and makes fun of on TV."

It is truly unfortunate that the theatrics of a celebrity-seeking minister have damaged so many good people. But it is also a poignant reminder of Jesus' teaching in the Sermon on the Mount:

You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Recently I entered into an online discussion about several mainline Protestant churches that were offering sanctuary to aliens who had entered the US illegally. The responses to my post were civil, but centered around a theme common to Protestant fundamentalism:

"Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities..." Sounds to me like violating the laws of a nation and crossing their borders illegally falls under that....

You appear to be confusing compassion for aliens with supporting their
illegal activities which are very clearly sinful behavior ... I’m sure God is just thrilled that these “aliens” are sinning over and
over again just put themselves first regardless of the cost to their
soul or this nation’s sovereignty....

As Christians we are to follow man’s laws unless they directly conflict
with us being required to deny Christ. This is not even close to that
scenario.

Of course I am referring to "law and order" Christianity. As a child, I was clearly taught that sin included the breaking of civil and criminal laws instituted by our government. The call to be a law-abiding citizen is basic to the doctrines of Protestant fundamentalism. And given that one of the major underlying narratives of the Protestant fundamentalist movement is the unique mission and blessing that God has given to the United States of America, it is also one of the primary reasons that Protestant fundamentalists are generally very patriotic.

Have you been following the sham "trial" of journalist and writer Mark Steyn? A Canadian magazine, Maclean's, published a piece by Steyn entitled "Why The Future Belongs To Islam," in which Steyn opined that the combination of immigration, intimidation through violence, and population expansion through significantly higher birth rates would result in a Europe dominated by Islamic culture within the next few decades.

A group of Canadian Muslims claimed that they were insulted by the article, and now Steyn's writings are being reviewed by the Human Rights Commission in British Columbia, based on allegations that Steyn's article "spread hatred against Muslims." This is frightening for a number of reasons, but particularly for the chilling effect that a guilty verdict will have on Canadians' ability to freely discuss religious issues. Oh, and did I mention that Canadian Human Rights trials have so far racked up a 100% conviction rate?

Yet left-wing loonies and Hollywood stooges swoon in Hugo Chavez's presence, declaring him a hero who will save the Western Hemisphere from the evil imperialism of the United States. These same people think that the Chimpy McHitlerburton Administration is the Fourth Reich. Some people are just stupid.

The post-election violence in Zimbabwe has been particularly hard on women and children, who are crammed by the hundreds into filthy and overcrowded "safe houses" in order to avoid being kidnapped by government forces, as a reprisal for men and young boys fleeing the government troops rather than serve in Zimbabwe's corrupt military. Naturally, Zimbabwe's dictator, Robert Mugabe, had no idea that this has been going on.

Instead of simply counting votes, which is the only fair thing to
do with votes in any election anywhere — the members of the
Democratic-party rules Committee deem it in their purview to decipher
votes, interpret votes, translate votes — anything but count them!
Then, to add fantasy to falsehood they insisted on conjuring votes that
were never even cast. After all, so goes their illogic, if voters
didn’t show up who otherwise would have, its up to the Committee
members to discern how they would have voted if they did.

The citizens of Union County, SD have approved a rezoning measure that will allow Hyperion Energy to build a billion-dollar oil refining facility. If the plan materializes, it will be the first new oil refinery built in the United States in thirty years. Meanwhile Iran is building seven new oil refineries in an effort to end gasoline imports. Imagine ... producing your own fuel weakens the ability of other nations to control your economy! Anyone in Washington, DC paying attention to this.

And the Paris-based International Energy Agency says that we need to spend $45 trillion (yes, that's trillion with a "t") in green energy and nuclear power in order to combat global warming. I feel my wallet getting thinner already.

Old things suddenly seem new again with Barack Obama. We voted for "hope and change" in 1992, yet the "decade of hope" morphed into the true "decade of greed" with the expansion and bursting of the tech bubble. We voted for honesty in 1976, and ended up with a grievously weakened nation as a result. Incidentally, Walter Mondale is now on the Obama bandwagon. He's much too old for that magical VP spot, though.

Obama still has plenty of problems, though. A recent Rasmussen poll found that among likely voters, there was a strong feeling that the press was biased in favor of Obama. You can't swoon over a candidate and pretend to be objective. If the bias is this transparent, it could become a liability for Obama. Also, the race produced a considerable amount of criticism from other Democrats about Obama's policy objectives. Hysterical Democrat partisans will accuse McCain of racism if he even utters Obama's name, but it will be hard for them to smear respected members of their own party. Look for the Republicans to continue to use Democrat criticisms of Obama in the general election campaign.

... No, it's not merely his
youthful vigor, or handsomeness, or even inspiring rhetoric. It is not
fresh ideas or cool charisma or the fact that a black president will be
historic and revolutionary in about a thousand different ways. It is
something more. Even Bill Clinton, with all his effortless, winking
charm, didn't have what Obama has, which is a sort of powerful
luminosity, a unique high-vibration integrity.

Dismiss it all you like, but I've heard from far too many enormously smart, wise, spiritually attuned people who've been intuitively blown away by Obama's presence - not speeches, not policies, but sheer presence
- to say it's just a clever marketing ploy, a slick gambit carefully
orchestrated by hotshot campaign organizers who, once Obama gets into
office, will suddenly turn from perky optimists to vile soul-sucking
lobbyist whores, with Obama as their suddenly evil, cackling overlord.

Here's where it gets gooey. Many spiritually advanced people I
know (not coweringly religious, mind you, but deeply spiritual)
identify Obama as a Lightworker, that rare kind of attuned being who
has the ability to lead us not merely to new foreign policies or health
care plans or whatnot, but who can actually help usher in a new way of being on the planet, of relating and connecting and engaging with this bizarre earthly experiment. These kinds of people actually help us evolve. They are philosophers and peacemakers of a very high order, and they speak not just to reason or emotion, but to the soul.

The unusual thing is, true Lightworkers almost never appear on
such a brutal, spiritually demeaning stage as national politics. This
is why Obama is so rare. And this why he is so often compared to
Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr., to those leaders in our culture
whose stirring vibrations still resonate throughout our short history.

Are you rolling your eyes and scoffing? Fine by me. But you
gotta wonder, why has, say, the JFK legacy lasted so long, is so vital
to our national identity? Yes, the assassination canonized his legend.
The Kennedy family is our version of royalty. But there's something
more. Those attuned to energies beyond the literal meanings of things,
these people say JFK wasn't assassinated for any typical reason you can
name. It's because he was just this kind of high-vibration being, a
peacemaker, at odds with the war machine, the CIA, the dark side. And
it killed him.

Now, Obama. The next step. Another try. And perhaps, as Bush
laid waste to the land and embarrassed the country and pummeled our
national spirit into disenchanted pulp and yet ironically, in so doing
has helped set the stage for an even larger and more fascinating
evolutionary burp, we are finally truly ready for another Lightworker
to step up.

So there you have it. The "spiritual" among us -- not the religious! -- but the spiritual, those in tune with the non-corporeal realm inhabited by the essences of ultimate truth and goodness, believe that Obama is one of them.

After a little digging, bloggers traced the Lightworker terminology to Steve Pavlina, a self-help guru who focuses on New-Age techniques such as "raising your consciousness" in order to increase productivity and increase self-worth. Pavlina explains that people progress along two paths, Lightworkers (who serve others) and Darkworkers (who serve themselves). Lightworkers try to heal. They "expand consciousness." Darkworkers love power. They seek to profit from the misfortune of others, often leaving things in worse shape than they found them. Pavlina writes,

The collective consciousness of humanity is well aware of its
condition. It knows the body is unhealthy and is headed downhill. It
knows that left unchecked, the darkworker threat will take the body
down with it. While this climate gives rise to more darkworkers,
there’s also a strong counter-reaction on the rise. The presence of
disease is triggering the body’s immune system to increase the white
blood cell count. Those white blood cells are lightworkers.

The result is that many people are now hearing this call. It
actually began decades ago, but it’s particularly strong today. The
body of humanity is acting in its own defense by calling more and more
lightworkers into action. Some people are born with this inclination,
some have had it for many years, and others are currently waking up to
it.

The blogger DoublePlusUndead also links the thinking behind Lightworker/Darkworker terminology to an X-box game, Jade Empire. He also provides this interesting insight into Pavlina and Morford's thinking:

In Jade Empire, you could either follow the philosophy of the Open Palm or the Closed Fist.
Open Palm is a philosophy that argues one should always give aid to
someone, be in tune with nature, and to know and accept one's place in
this world. Closed Fist is a philosophy that teaches self-reliance, to
control one's surroundings, and to try and be ambitious. Lightworker
and Darkworker operate on similar principles. From Morford's article,

The unusual thing is, true Lightworkers almost never appear on such a brutal, spiritually demeaning stage as national politics.

Let me repeat Jade Empire's Open Palm philosophy: Open Palm is a philosophy that argues one should always give aid to
someone, be in tune with nature, and to know and accept one's place in
this world.

The reason you don't see an Open Palm or Lightworker on the national stage is because philosophically speaking, they aren't supposed to be ambitious. This is why Morford is so excited.

For what it's worth, blogger See-Dubya notes that Lightworker sounds eerily similar to "lightbearer," a term infamously used in Isaiah 14 to describe a hubristic Babylonian king who bragged, "I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God." God's wrath was stirred against this king, and Isaiah mocks him in his death, a rotting corpse covered with worms, and says, "Those who see you stare at you, they ponder your fate: Is this the man who shook the earth, who made kingdoms tremble?" The King James bible translates the Hebrew "lightbearer" into a name that we all know very well -- Lucifer. Spiritualists, of course, would deny this relationship, because in their understanding this Babylonian king who left destruction and suffering in his wake would in fact be a Darkworker.

Progressive and liberal Christians, and to a significant extent, young so-called "emergent" Evangelicals, have excitedly embraced the Obama candidacy. The reason for this is the underlying hermeneutic of both the progressive and emergent Christian movement, which seeks to animate and personify the word of God
in its people through a direct, transformational engagement with the
world. Justice and equality are top social priorities for progressives and emergents.
And, perhaps even more importantly, a shared vision of a peaceable
kingdom. Thus both movements are very passionately
involved in peace and justice issues.

For these reasons, Barack Obama's rhetoric about peaceful
negotiations with our enemies, disarmament, health coverage for all
Americans, expanding services for the poor, and imposing tighter
controls on corporations appeals to the kingdom vision of emergent
evangelical Christians. Even here in Oklahoma, Obama is extremely
popular with a significant portion of young, emergent evangelicals.

There is a strain of liberal Christian thought (perhaps best known through the writings of Marcus Borg) that proposes to explain the dual nature of Jesus Christ (fully God and fully human) by suggesting that Jesus was fully human, and yet a "spirit person" so in tune with God as to be indistinguishable in word, thought, and deed from God Himself. According to the "spirit person" understanding of Jesus Christ, he did not reach his full spiritual maturity (or 'enlightenment,' if you prefer) until he was around 30 years old; it was at that time that he was baptized by John (Matthew 3) and officially began his earthly ministry.

Borg fully integrates Scripture and its teachings about Jesus and the revelation of God through the life of Jesus into his understanding of "spirit people," and thus concludes that Jesus is in fact THE "spirit person" -- not just another enlightened spirit leader like the Dali Lama or Ghandi, but a living, breathing son of man who is also the one and only begotten Son of God. In contrast, secular spiritualists generally steer clear of any "God talk" in their writings. But the concepts are similar -- existence on a higher plane of spiritual consciousness, a special detachment from the encumbrances of the flesh (exemplified through Christ in the desert temptation of Matthew 4) that allows an individual to directly embody ultimate truth and goodness. This is what defines a "spirit person." This is what many religious seekers (such as Buddhists) attempt to achieve through meditation and trance-like repetitive prayers.

I mentioned Borg's writings because they seem to fit nicely with other things I discussed in this piece, but I believe that Borg's specific understanding of Christ as a "spirit person" represents the view of only a genuine minority of contemporary Christians. From readings and conversations that I have had with progressive and emergent Christians, I sense less of a "spirit person" understanding and more of an idea that Obama is simply a man who has his theology "right," and thus is interested in directing the United States toward becoming a leading advocate for peace and justice in the world. Or to use good old evangelical terminology, Obama is a man who is "being led by the Spirit."

While Christians see Obama as a man following God's will, secular spiritualists see Obama as an actual manifestation of God (or "The Source," or whatever New-Age terminology the like). Still, it is plain that no candidate in recent memory has stirred-up spirit-talk and God-talk like Barack Obama.

The Senate Democrats attempted to document the "lies" told by the Bush Administration that supposedly propelled us into war in Iraq. They released their report, written solely by Democrat staffers, last week, with a press conference chaired by Sen. Jay Rockefeller. Republicans were barred from contributing anything to the report, so we can be certain that the report is "truthful," or at least very, very truthy.

The Washington Post's Fred Hiatt, who edits the WaPo editorial page, did some digging into the report, and guess what he found? Hold on to your hats, folks, because the road gets very bumpy up ahead:

Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.), chairman of the Select Committee on Intelligence,
set out to provide the official foundation for what has become not only
a thriving business but, more important, an article of faith among
millions of Americans. And in releasing a committee report Thursday, he
claimed to have accomplished his mission, though he did not use the
L-word.

"In making the case for war, the administration repeatedly presented
intelligence as fact when it was unsubstantiated, contradicted or even
nonexistent," he said.

...
But dive into Rockefeller's report, in search of where exactly President Bush lied about what his intelligence agencies were telling him about the threat posed by Saddam Hussein, and you may be surprised by what you find.

On weapons of mass destruction overall (a separate section of the
intelligence committee report)? "Generally substantiated by
intelligence information." Delivery vehicles such as ballistic
missiles? "Generally substantiated by available intelligence." Unmanned
aerial vehicles that could be used to deliver WMDs? "Generally
substantiated by intelligence information."

As you read through the report, you begin to think maybe you've
mistakenly picked up the minority dissent. But, no, this is the
Rockefeller indictment. So, you think, the smoking gun must appear in
the section on Bush's claims about Saddam Hussein's alleged ties to
terrorism.

But statements regarding Iraq's support for terrorist groups other than al-Qaeda
"were substantiated by intelligence information." Statements that Iraq
provided safe haven for Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and other terrorists with
ties to al-Qaeda "were substantiated by the intelligence assessments,"
and statements regarding Iraq's contacts with al-Qaeda "were
substantiated by intelligence information." The report is left to
complain about "implications" and statements that "left the impression"
that those contacts led to substantive Iraqi cooperation.

... After all, it was not Bush, but Rockefeller, who said in October 2002:
"There has been some debate over how 'imminent' a threat Iraq poses. I
do believe Iraq poses an imminent threat. I also believe after
September 11, that question is increasingly outdated. . . . To insist
on further evidence could put some of our fellow Americans at risk. Can
we afford to take that chance? I do not think we can." (all emphasis added)

Ouch. And how embarrassing! Rarely has a partisan indictment turned out to be such an utter failure.

It should also be noted that this is only the latest in a series of investigations that have turned up no evidence whatsoever that either the Bush White House or the British deliberately falsified intelligence claims in order to make the case for removing Saddam Hussein from power. And speaking of "imminent threats," remember what Democrats had been saying about Saddam Hussein up until March 2003?

Sadly, as I have opined before, I believe that this is true. The Democrats have made their whole "Bush lied" case out of errant decisions that were made by the Bush White House five and six years ago. Yet since then, the Democrats have been wrong about virtually everything concerning Iraq and Afghanistan. When Republicans start bringing this up during the upcoming election battle, the Democrats are going to need a way to defend themselves, because Bush Derangement Syndrome has not been substantiated by any sort of rational intelligence.

If you are a late 30-something or early 40-something like me, you'll remember the live action 1970's Saturday morning TV shows produced by Lou Scheimer and Norm Prescott. You remember, right? With their names turning round and round in a little circle at the end of the opening titles? Ah, 70's kids television!

Shazam!

Secrets if Isis (Many young boys, including myself, experienced their first pangs of puberty while watching the gorgeous Joanna Cameron!)

Aw, what the heck? She deserves another look, don't you think?

Ark II

And of course there had to be a cheap Star Wars knockoff in here somewhere, right? Jason of Star Command

"The way to continue our fight now, to
accomplish the goals for which we stand is to take our energy, our
passions, our strengths and do all we can to help elect Barack Obama
the next president of the United States. Today, as I suspend my campaign, I
congratulate him on the victory he has won and the extraordinary race
he has run. I endorse him and throw my full support behind him." - Hillary Rodham Clinton, June 7, 2008

Hillary Clinton is officially out of the race for Democratic nominee for President of the United States. Watching her campaign during the last two months was like watching the air slowly leak out of a punctured tire.

She still needs your help, though, to pay off more that $30 million in campaign debts. Won't you do your part by investing in AmericaHillary ... or ... something? I strongly suspect that if she still had money in the bank, she would not have thrown in the towel today.

This is interesting, since Democrats are well-known for their ability to put aside their differences (or sometimes temporarily disappear controversial party members) and rally behind their candidates in general elections. Whether or not such bitterness is still around in November remains to be seen.

An Egyptian blogger arrested for supporting higher pay for textile workers and controls on rapidly increasing prices has been released from prison. But while imprisoned, he claims that he was repeatedly tortured with electric shocks and beatings, and denied food and water for days.

Curiously, the AFP story quotes no human rights advocates condemning the alleged treatment of this blogger....

A Texas appellate court has ruled that the Child Protective Services Agency overstepped its bounds when it forcibly removed hundreds of children from the FLDS Yearning For Zion compound in April. The children are expected to be returned to the custody of their mothers shortly.

We know that the FLDS sect is run in a dictatorial fashionbya really creepy guy, and that teenage marriages and polygamy by group patriarchs are fundamental practices of the sect. But the call that triggered the raid on the compound turned out to be a hoax, and authorities found no evidence of sexual, physical, or emotional abuse of the children living at the ranch. The State of Texas had no right to take away these children, and I am glad to see that they will be reunited with their mothers.

Jupiter now has three large "red spots" below its southern equator. This is probably due to climate change on the giant planet. Word has it that acolytes of Al Gore are working day and night to come up with a way to blame America for this latest assault on nature.

It appears that corruption and incompetence at the local government level has significantly contributed to the loss of life in last month's devastating earthquake in China. "Parents of the estimated 10,000 children who lost their lives in the
quake have grown so enraged about collapsed schools that they have
overcome their usual caution about confronting Communist Party
officials. Many say they are especially upset that some schools for
poor students crumbled into rubble even though government offices and
more elite schools not far away survived the May 12 quake largely
intact." As usual, the powerful are more equal than others.

Actress Sharon Stone thinks that China deserved the earthquake as a karmic retribution for the way that it has treated Tibet. The Chinese were not pleased with her foolish statement.

This Vanity Fair story on Bill Clinton characterizes him as -- are you sitting down? -- an irresponsible playboy who spends most of his time chasing dollars and skirts, and has his inner circle of friends and advisers so under his spell that they cannot persuade him to stop his self-destructive behavior. This really isn't "news" to anyone who observed Bill Clinton during his eight years in the White House, but it sure has the Clinton damage control department in a huff; they claim that Vanity Fair failed to interview any of Bill Clinton's current staff or sufficiently describe the numerous philanthropic ventures that he has helmed during the past eight years. Fair enough -- but all ex-presidents do those things. It is Bill Clinton's hedonistic behavior that fatally damaged his wife's presidential campaign, and that sets him apart from other former Chief Executives.

Comic actor Harvey Korman, best known for his role as Hedley Lamarr in Blazing Saddles, and as Tim Conway's comedic foil on The Carol Burnett Show, passed away at the age of 81.

Here is a sample of Harvey in Blazing Saddles:

And here is the classic Dentist's Office sketch from The Carol Burnett Show. Harvey never could keep a straight face around Tim Conway.

Legendary pioneer rock 'n' roller Bo Diddley passed away yesterday at the age of 79. Diddley was known for his energetic stage presence, square guitars, and heavy chucka-chucka-chucka "scratching" rhythm. His first hit record was released in 1955 as a 78 rpm single for the Checker record label, which was a part of Chicago-based Chess Records, one of the most important early rock and R&B record labels. Diddley's first single coupled two originals (credited to his legal name, Ellas McDaniel) entitled "Bo Diddley" and "I'm a Man." "Bo Diddley" was a light-hearted take on the old nursery song "Hush little baby don't say a word, daddy's going to buy you a mocking bird ..." And "I'm A Man" has been copied by generations of rock and R&B singers, most notably George Thorogood's "Bad To The Bone."

The Latin-flavored rhythm of "Bo Diddley" has been described as "shave and a haircut" rhythm. But if you don't know the song, do yourself a favor and listen to it. Here it is, from the original 78: